Department of Labor and Employment Rosalinda Baldoz announced lifting of ban of Household Workers (Domestic Helpers) in Jordan. DOLE has imposed banning of deployment for DH in Jordan in 2008.

Baldoz and Jordanian labor Minister Maher Al Waked has signed an agreement regulating recruitment of Household Workers that will cease the rapid control of undocumented Filipino DH going to Jordan despite the ban imposed by DOLE in 2008.

As part of the agreement, Filipino DH in Jordan will now receive USD400 as basic salary.

“We need to intensify our program to stop illegal recruitment and trafficking, particularly of our women who work in households. We expect this agreement would be beneficial in terms of addressing the issues of illegal recruitment and trafficking,” Baldoz said.

Aside from the salary, both parties have also agreed to the following:

·         All DH who wants to apply in Jordan must be deployed only through an accredited Jordanian and Filipino recruitment agencies only.

·         Household workers who will be deployed through non-recognized agencies will not be given work permit by Jordanian government.

·         Applicants would undergo skills and training certification by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). They will also be required to undergo culture and language training and medical examinations.

·     For employers, they cannot force a Filipino maid to work other than that specified in the contract while the working hours should not exceed the limit specified by Jordanian law

·         Employers should also provide the following:

1.      Decent living quarters

2.      Enough food, water, clothing and access to medical care.

3.      1 day-off per week

4.      Give Household workers a freedom to practices their religion as long as it does not offend the traditions of the employer’s.

There were an estimated 15,000 Filipino maids in Jordan when the ban was imposed but one Jordanian recruiter said their number may have climbed to 20,000 today with the arrival of undocumented HSWs.